Donald “Tod” Pressler, 81

By editor

Created 04/14/2011 - 11:31am

Donald J. “Tod” Pressler, 81, a resident of Churubusco, passed away unexpectedly at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at the family residence, from the results of an apparent heart attack.
Mr. Pressler was born July 8, 1929 in Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, a son of Riley and Lola (Gause) Pressler. He spent his formative years on the family farm north of Collins, and served with the United States Army during World War II. A year after completing his military duty he was married July 16, 1949 in Merriam to Dorcas Pippenger, and had lived in the Churubusco-area all of his adult life.
Employed at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for over 30 years, he retired from there in 1981. He was a member of the Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Turtle Post 3846.
During his retirement years, he and his wife enjoyed wintering for several years in Ruskin, Fla. In his leisure time he enjoyed reading, fishing, watching television, and most especially loved and cherished his family.
The surviving relatives include his wife, Dorcas, to whom he was married for over 61 years; a daughter, Diana (Bill Swinehart) Liechty of Churubusco; a sister, Mary Jane Pressler of Columbia City; three grandchildren, David (Janelle) Liechty of Auburn, Lori (Jacob) Black of Fort Wayne and Kristina (Greg) Zelt of Leo; and six great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Tod Pressler April 30, 1977; and by three brothers, Alan Pressler, Mike Pressler, and Gene Pressler.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Robert C. Siegrist, pastor of Believer’s Bible Fellowship, officiating.
The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, or one hour prior to the service Sunday afternoon.
Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Blue River Cemetery, Whitley County.
For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Believer’s Bible Fellowship, 316 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723; or to the donor’s choice.
To leave an online condolence for the family in Mr. Pressler’s memory, log on to www.sheetsandchilds.net[1].